"So It Begins" is Croatian Death Metallers DECOMPOSING ENTITY's debut full length album, and what a debut it is. DECOMPOSING ENTITY have been going for 7 years already. Some might say that is a long time to wait to release your first full length album, but in reality, they have been doing a lot in those 7 years. They released a self-titled EP back in 2008 along with a couple of singles and demos at regular intervals in the following years. Their bio informs us that they have shared the stage with the likes of BEHEMOTH, HORNA, and ENTOMBED to name a few! So, after all that, 7 years to release their first album isn't bad, all things considered.

Upon listening to DECOMPOSING ENTITY for the first time, I felt a sense of familiarity. Their brutal yet, at times, technical playing style reminded me a lot of SUFFOCATION with the brutality of DEICIDE. Now, by no means are they a carbon copy of these bands, they are far from it. They break away from the shell of their influences to slightly push the boundaries yet still sounding like good ol' Death Metal. The production of this album is solid, it emphasizes their deep and brutal tone without sounding like they have a bass overload.

When it comes down to the actual content of the album, they have some seriously strong songs. Upon pressing play, you are greeted with an eerie "Intro" track. A tool that is most underutilised by a lot of bands. This tune lures you into a false sense of security, it is a calming and soothing song, yet after 1 minute and 36 seconds you are assaulted by the bestial intro riff of "Undo The Error". My only pet peeve (albeit a small pet peeve) is that the intro track could run a lot smoother into the main track.

Now, onto my favourite song from the album! "Disgust In Theory" is catchy as Hell. There are so many changes in this song, from brutal blast beats to savage riffage to heavy chugging. They even have a few moments of clean/acoustic guitar sounds. There's heavy gutturals and piercing shrieking also. There really is something for everyone in this song. This song shows the sheer musical talent and versatility of each and every band member.

I'm giving this album 8/10. All in all, "So It Begins" is a rollercoaster of an album. Each track brings something new and keeps you guessing. I finished the album feeling satisfied. DECOMPOSING ENTITY slightly pushed the boundaries of Death Metal in this album and I loved it. They did what anyone could ask for, write a great Death Metal album and put their own stamp on it. They tried something new without straying too far from the beaten path. Although, in parts, I wanted to hear more of their originality. But, maybe that's just me being greedy! Other than that, DECOMPOSING ENTITY definitely got it right with "So It Begins".